OK anyone with an interest in Rome must buy this game. Anyone who enjoys AGEOD games must buy this game.

I've played a few AGEOD titles and this one wins out for me. It has some minor issues which I'm sure will be dealt with over time. I do know that once the game is built up with expansions etc it will be the No1 Rome wargame. Infact though I'm not normally an ancient warfare wargamer I had an itch after watching Spartacus series for a game set in Rome. I held out for this and I'm so glad I did.

I imagine those who play PBEM and have a three person game it will be one hell of an experience.

The art is top noth. map is lovely. It oozes atmosphere.

The issues so far are that prisoner counts don't add up. Also the AI raids abit to often and splits it's forces then struggles to bring them back together again. I believe this is going to be looked at.

Also don't expect balance in some scenarios. Playing as Marius in the Marius and Ulla scenario is tough (I choose that as my first scenario, not recommended).

The events and decisions you can make really add to the game and it overflows with period goodness.

Anyway buy it. You wont be disappointed. I'd have loved some more scenarios and it seem there is no Spartacus scenario (must have been a preorder bonus). However considering the price you can't go wrong.

Can't wait for the expansion and hopefully more scenarios through DLC.

vonRocko -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 8:56:03 PM)

I agree, it is great! When it gets polished it is going to be shiny gem. [:)] Spartacus was a preorder bonus.

LarryP -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 8:56:15 PM)

I have about all of the AGEOD games and this looks like another with the same interface. Napoleon, Birth Of America 1 & 2, American Civil War, Pride Of Nations, and Revolution Under Siege. I'm tired of this interface so I'm passing on this title.

sulla05 -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 9:48:50 PM)

While it is true that is an AGE engine game, does that mean that it is just a pressed clone to make some cash? No, definitely not.

I do not understand the difference between computer wargamers and board wargamers or for that matter some of the companies that make the games.

In the board game world a good system that works would be used to game as many different battles/ times as the system was good for ( Great battles etc. ). No one in the board gaming world picks on a game because the system is the same or it resembles the other games in the series etc..

But definitely in computer games I see this a lot. Whether it is old customers who voice this opinion or the gaming companies themselves who feel that they have to mess with a good thing. I never understood why there is a difference in this.

Please don't get me wrong if you don't want the same interface it's a free country do as you will. I would only agree with you if the engine had been shoe horned into an age or war that it just doesn't work for. Which is definitely not the case for AJA. To me it is an excellent game and it is based upon some of my favorite historical eras so for me it is a win-win.

wodin -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 10:42:10 PM)

Larry your missing out on what for me is the best title yet and doesn't feel in anyway like someones forced Rome into a cookie cutter engine..

Not sure I understand your thought process here..

Seriously take it in it's own right it's a fantastic Rome wargame..I wasn't keen on the Civil war game or BOA for that matter..this however feels totally different.

Anyway to each his own. If you enjoy Ancient warfare your missing out.

Sulla says it better than me...

JiminyJickers -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 11:08:32 PM)

Is there any way to still get the Spartacus scenario? If not, I'll give it a miss for now. If I have to pay extra, all good.

Not a fan of exclusive pre-order bonuses, if that is their business practices, then they won't have my business.

wodin -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 11:13:43 PM)

Don't miss out just because of the Spartacus scenario..I was abit disappointed..but hey the game is that good I soon let the let down wash away.

Also these days I'm afraid nearly all developers are offering pre order bonus...if you stick to your guns eventually you'll have no games you'd be able to buy.

Not sure the Spartacus scenario was a big scenario either. Plus I expect we will get some user made scenarios. Finally the game is cheap and well worth the money. I see it as a base game that over time will grow into a comprehensive Rome wargame.

JiminyJickers -> RE: Must have! (9/27/2012 11:19:42 PM)

That is a shame, I'm not interested in buying a cut down version of the game. Most of these games only have a handful of scenarios anyway, if they get rid of one, then that doesn't do it for me.

Most of the pre-order bonuses are fairly useless items, a scenario however is a big deal as far as I'm concerned.

May look into it again later on when they either add it back in or release new scenarios, but for now I will wait. Not too bad since I have too many other games to play anyway, especially after just picking up Scourge of War.

sulla05 -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 12:21:07 AM)

Since their split with Paradox I believe they had to raise a bit of funding ASAP.

At least that is my take on the situation. I have never done a preorder before this game and I somewhat lean to your ideas on the matter.

However I really felt I had to do something to show my support of the company. Which at the moment is stilled called Paradox France but it is obvious they are separate entities.

Challerain -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 2:26:39 AM)

I thought I read that the bonus scenario would be made available to everyone in mid-October, but can't seem to find where I read it. I think it was on the preorder page.

J P Falcon -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 3:20:46 AM)

What bothered me about the pre order Spartacus scenario is that it was not made available here at Matrix....I buy my games from here if I have a choice so I felt a bit left out.....No matter though as I'm getting this one anyway.....

Reiryc -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 3:23:14 AM)

Great game and well worth picking up for the cheap price.

I'm biased though as I pretty much love all their games. I like the engine and how it plays well with the more fluid/mobile warfare instead of more modern conflicts with battle lines.

RedCharlie65 -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 5:25:03 AM)

Completely agree with you Wodin. Downloaded it today and have been floored with its historic detail. The unit art is extremely good. Love those ship units as well. Map is second to none. The game oozes with atmosphere.

Auchinleck -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 5:54:58 AM)

Sulla! To the infamy of his name! To the utter damnation of his line!

Marcus Licineas Crassus (played by Lawrence Olivier in Spartacus)

LarryP -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 2:25:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: wodin

Not sure I understand your thought process here..

I suppose I'm just tired of the same interface after so many hours playing the other games I mentioned. When I look at the pictures of the game, I think "Oh no, I'm tired of that." I don't know how else to describe it.

sulla05: As far as board games go, I never play them as I don't like board (bored) games. I'm not what you would call a hardcore gamer. I'm more of a casual gamer.

I'll keep looking at the posts and maybe I will budge, but right now after so many hours of AGEOD Civil War, I'm not feeling it. [:)]

Blind Sniper -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 4:06:18 PM)

quote:

I'll keep looking at the posts and maybe I will budge, but right now after so many hours of AGEOD Civil War, I'm not feeling it.

I understand you point of view, after ACW I did bought Napoleonic Campaign but was a mistake, then no more Ageod games, all look very similar.

This time, after good review and low price I bought a game again, AJE. The engine is the same (and mechanics too) but maybe is deep like ACW and even better, time will tell.

LarryP -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 6:29:21 PM)

Blind Sniper, let me know how you like it and I may try it out. $25 isn't that much money.

Grotius -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 7:22:56 PM)

How long does it take to process turns? That's what turned me off of Pride of Nations. I watched the OutOfEight video preview, and turn-processing seemed a lot quicker. Is that your experience?

wodin -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 7:26:37 PM)

Grotius no time at all...nothing like PON. Around 30 secs or so for me.

Tophat1812 -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 7:59:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Grotius

How long does it take to process turns? That's what turned me off of Pride of Nations. I watched the OutOfEight video preview, and turn-processing seemed a lot quicker. Is that your experience?

This was my big concern as well and why PON turned me off. The turn processing time for me so far has been no problem. I'll have to time a few turns later and post it. But the turn time isn't an issue.

sulla05 -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 10:06:03 PM)

PON was an aberration for PF. The AGE engine was thrown together with a Europa Universalis engine and they had a child who a lot of parents wouldn't love.

However the team has worked on it and plans to work further on it. I believe the newest patch is 1.3 which does take care of more than a few issues.

But if you are going to judge PF do it by looking at Rise of Prussia, Revolution Under Siege, BOA I and II, Napoleons Campaigns, Ageod's American Civil war and not the Paradox/Ageod PON.

To be perfectly honest I have always been surprised at my liking of all Ageod/PF games. I am a hex gamer plain and simple. If they did the AGE engine on a hex map I would be in heaven. I used to just look at games and if it didn't have a hex map I would go no further.

wodin -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 10:15:18 PM)

Sulla I thought Ageod now had totally broken away from Paradox so are no longer Paradox France but just AGEOD again.

sulla05 -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 10:16:26 PM)

They are totally separate again but the last I saw there name was PF.

Kipper -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 10:18:13 PM)

Seems to be a little criticism of the AI splitting armies up into small raiding parties, polluting the map with small units which the AI does not recombine into field armies again, leading to an ahistorical and unsatisfactory situation... what I can't get from the other forums is how big a deal this is and it is keeping me on the fence. How are you folk finding this issue? Is it a serious issue in your opinion?

Blind Sniper -> RE: Must have! (9/28/2012 10:33:34 PM)

quote:

Blind Sniper, let me know how you like it and I may try it out. $25 isn't that much money.

Sure, give me the time to play a bit.

wodin -> RE: Must have! (9/29/2012 1:23:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kipper

Seems to be a little criticism of the AI splitting armies up into small raiding parties, polluting the map with small units which the AI does not recombine into field armies again, leading to an ahistorical and unsatisfactory situation... what I can't get from the other forums is how big a deal this is and it is keeping me on the fence. How are you folk finding this issue? Is it a serious issue in your opinion?

yeah I mentioned this here somewhere. It's not a massive deal and apparently it's being worked on and can be curbed.

personally it hasn't been a big deal for me. A pain in the backside at times especially say in the Marius vs Sulla scenario if you take marius the constant small units attacking in to Spain was a real pain..to the point where it's very hard to keep hold of Spain as Marius which then means the Scenario is uber tough. Again though I believe they can reduce that in a path.

BohémondAJE -> RE: Must have! (9/29/2012 1:58:12 PM)

In next patch, AI should make less small stacks. This will be true for ''major'' factions. Raiders and Pirates will still use these small stacks.

Regards

Bohémond from AJE Team.

stormbringer3 -> RE: Must have! (9/29/2012 4:22:47 PM)

This is an excellent game and one of the best releases I've seen in a long time. The news about cutting down the small stacks will be a definite improvement.

Grotius -> RE: Must have! (10/2/2012 4:44:36 PM)

Glad to hear processing time is not an issue. That may persuade me to buy this title. It looks fun!

Rtwfreak -> RE: Must have! (10/2/2012 4:58:54 PM)

The only thing about this game is after having played minatures of the period in my youth it's very hard to just play a game like this with just generic counters and not much glitz and glamor. This is why I'm excited about Rome 2 Total War as it will have the glitz and glamor and hopefully a better ai than last time.